Antirattler



March 31, 1931.

J. sNEED 1,798,361 I ANTIRATTLER Filed Oct. 1, 1928 I! ,3 23 5 2. 2b z ifi f0 20 /5 I I 1. F I E 13 Patented Mar. 31 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOHN SNEEILOF FERNDALE, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO THE MIDLAND STEEL PRODUCTS COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, 03110, A CORPORATION F OHIG ANTIR-ATTLER Application filed October 1, 1928. Serial No. 309,664.

This invention relates to vehicle brake linkage and more particularly to a devicefor eliminating rattling of brake pull rods.

It is common practice that brake pull rods .5 extend alongside the side rails of the vehicle frame. Very often these rods are of considerable length and in thecourse of driving the vehicle with the brakes idle, may whip against the side rails causing a disagreeable noise. Consequently, it is one of the objects of my invention to support the rods so that they will be held out of contact with the side rail or other parts of the chassis. Another object is to hold the rod without interfering with its movement when the brakes are applied or released. A further object is to provide a simple and inexpensive mechanism capable of long life and hard usage.

Other objects will appear from the following description of a preferred form of my invention, reference being had to the accompanying drawings. The essential characteristics are summarized in the claims.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is an elevation of F a part of the side rail of the vehicle frame with the brake operating mechanism associated therewith; Fig. 2 is a top plan of the same side rail including an illustrative brake and brake linkage; Fig. 8 is an enlarged elevation of a portion of the side rail including the anti-rattling device; Fig. 4 is a section taken along the lines 4% of Fig. 3; Fig. 5

is a section taken along the lines 55 of Fig.

3; and Fig. 6 is a plan view of the leaf spring part used in my anti-rattling device.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, I

illustrate my invention in connection with the linkage used in awell known brake assembly wherein a side frame member or rail 1 supports a cross-shaft 2, usually operated by the foot pedal or similar means to actuate the brakes. Operatively connected to the shaft 2 is a brake pull rod 3 extending, in this in stance, forwardly to actuate the front brake 4 of the vehicle. In this type of linkage the pull rod 3 is connected to a cable5 which extends through a conduit 6 into the brake. Particularly in this type of construction, the pull rod 3 is pivotally supported at the crossshaft and is supported by the flexible cable 5 at the forward end. As may be imagined, in idle position the pull rod may whip or may sway toward and away from the side rail causing rattling. To prevent rattling, I provide a device 10 which supports the pull rod and resiliently urges it away from the frame and holds it a fixed distance therefrom. The parts are arranged as will presently appear so that the pull rod is perfectly free to move longitudinally of the device but is restrained 00 in its movement laterally thereof.

Referring particularly to Figs. 3 to 6 inelusive, I have illustrated the anti-rattling device in detail. Mounted on the web of the side rail is a U-shaped pressed metal part 11 with outturned flanges 12 through which rivets 18 or the like pass to secure the U- shaped part tothe rail. The legs of the U- shaped part are spaced apart a distance slightly greater than the diameter of the brake rod 8, see Fig. and the base of the U is curved, as at 14, to substantially the same radius as the brake rod.

Referring particularly to Figs. 5 and 6, a leaf spring member 20 being cut down in its middle portion, as at 21, to a width substantially equal to the diameter of the brake rod, is permanently disposed within the U-shaped part with the reduced portion 21 confined within the longitudinal limits of the U-shaped part 11 so that longitudinal move ment of the spring is limited by the shoulders 22 of the spring bearing against the edge of the legs of the U-shaped part, as at 23, see Fig. 3. Referring particularly to Fig. 6, the leaf spring member is bowed upwardly in its mid portion and contacts with brake rod as at 25 and urges the brakerod into contact with the base of the U-shaped part. The ends of the spring member 20 may be upturned slightly as at 26 so that a smooth surface is presented to the web of the side rail, as at 27.

It will appear from the foregoing that as the brake rod is drawn longitudinally of the U-shaped bracket, that there is no tendency to bind between the brake rod and the spring or between the spring and the side rail. Furthermore, the spring is not distorted by the normal operative movement of the red but the spring exerts a continuous pressure upon the rod and contacts with the base of the U-shaped bracket. It will further be appreciated that the arrangement of parts is eminently simple and the device can be cheaply constructed and quickly applied; that the length of its useful life is indelinitely long and that the efficiency of its operation will continue throughout the life of the vehicle. llhile I have illustrated and de cribed a preferred arm of my invention and its adaptation in a particular environment, I do not care to be limited in this or any other manner other than by the claims appended hereto.

I claim:

1. An anti-rattling device for a vehicle brake rod comprising a U-shaped bracket, secured to the frame of the vehicle, a leaf sprin disposed at least in part within the bracket and acting between the frame of the vehicle and the rod and urging the rod 1nto engagement with the base of the bracket away from the frame. 1

2. An anti-rattling device for a vehicle brake rod, comprising a U-shaped bracket secured to the frame of the vehicle, a leaf spring extending generally parallel with the rod and disposed between the frame and toe rod at least in part within the bracket and urging the rod into engagement with the base of the bracket.

3. An anti-rattling device for a brake rod constituting a U-shaped bracket secured to the side rail of a motor vehicle and encompassing the brake rod, a leaf spring extending generally parallel with the rod and held against movement longitudinally of ihg bracket and reacting between the side rail and the rod to urge the rod into the part or the bracket most remote from the side rail.

4. An anti-rattling device for a brake rod constituting a U-shaped bracket secured to the side rail of amotor vehicle and encompassing the brake rod, a spring held against movement longitudinally of the bracket and reacting l etween the side rail and the rod to urge the rod into the part of the bracket most remote from the side rail.

5. An anti-rattling device for a brake rod lying adjacent the side rail of a motor vehicle comprising a leaf spring bowed upwardlv in its mid portion and contacting with the brake rod at its mid portion and 1 contacting with the side rail of the vehicle at its ends, and means engaging the brake rod and limiting its movement away from the side rail against the pressure of said spring.

6. An anti-rattling device for a brake-rod lying adjacent the side rail of a motor vehicle comprising a leaf spring bowed upwardly in its mid portion and contacting with the brake rod at its mid portion and contacting with the side rail of the vehicle at its ends, and means encompassing the brake rod and at least part of said spring, and limiting movementof the rod away from the side rail against the pressure of said spring.

7. An anti-rattling device for a brake-rod including a U-shaped bracket between the of which the rod extends and a leaf spring member having a reduced middle por tion lying between the legs of the rod and forcing; the rod toward the base of the U, the end portions of the leaf spring being of greater width than the space between the legs of the bracket whereby the spring is restrained against movement longitudinally of the bracket.

8. An anti-rattling device for a brake rod. including a U-shaped bracket between the of which the rod extends and a leaf spring member having a reduced middle portion lying between the legs of the rod and contacting with the rod, the end portions of the leaf spring being of greater width than the space between the legs of the bracket and having shoulders abutting the legs of the bracket, whereby the spring is restrained against movement longitudinally of the bracket.

9. The combination of a vehicle frame, a brake pull rod extending along the side thereof, and means for preventing rattling between the rod and the frame comprising a U-shaped'bracket encompassing the rod and secured to the frame and a leaf spring bowed upwardly in its mid-portion and having its mid-portion disposed within the bracket and contacting with the rod and having upturned end portions contacting with the frame, and presenting rounded surfaces for sliding engagement therewith.

10. The combination of a vehicle frame, a brake pull rod extending along the side there of, and means for preventing rattling between the rod and the frame comprising a U-shaped bracket encompassing the rod and secured. to the frame and a leaf spring bowed upwardly in its mid-portion and having its mid-portion disposed within the bracket and contacting with the rod and forcing the rod to the base of the U-shaped part of the bracket and having enlarged end portions of greater width than the opening through the bracket and contacting with the frame member and having its extreme ends upturned to present smooth surfaces to the frame member.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto ailix my signature.

JOHN SNEED. 

